Xiaomi Mi Band 4 NFC remains one of the most popular fitness bracelets even years after its release, thanks to a combination of affordable price, reliability and contactless payment features. However, many users face difficulties in the first setup, especially when it comes to the NFC module and bank card binding. In this article, we will analyze all the stages of setting up, from basic smartphone connection to the subtleties of working with Mi Pay and fixing typical errors.
The Mi Band 4 NFC is not only a feature of the bracelet, but also a feature of the Mi Fit (or Zepp Life) app, regional restrictions, and even a smartphone model. For example, in Russia, the NFC module works only with MIR cards and a limited list of banks, while in Europe, Mastercard and Visa are supported, and we will take all these nuances into account to make the instruction relevant for users in 2026.
1. Preparation for setting up: what to check before turning on the bracelet
Before you start setting up, make sure you have everything you need, and without these components, the process can stall halfway.
- π± Smartphone on Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+ (iPhone functionality is limited β NFC no-one will work).
- π Charged bracelet (minimum 20% battery, otherwise synchronization will be interrupted).
- π² Mi Fit or Zepp Life app (download the latest version from Google Play or App Store).
- π³ Bank card with contactless payments support (if you plan to use it) NFC).
Also check if your smartphone is unlocked to install apps from unknown sources (relevant to Huawei owners without Google Services).If you have Xiaomi or Redmi, upgrade to Google Play services - without them, Mi Fit may not recognize the bracelet.
β οΈ If you are buying the Mi Band 4 NFC on AliExpress or in unofficial stores, check the region of firmware. Chinese versions (with firmwareΜ CN) They don't support foreign map binding. To change the region, you'll need to reflash the bracelet, which is a separate procedure described at the end of the article.
2. First on and connecting to a smartphone
The process of connecting Mi Band 4 NFC to the phone takes no more than 5 minutes if you follow the instructions:
- Charge the bracelet. Connect the bracelet to the charger (use the original cable!) Wait for the charge indicator (battery icon) to appear on the screen. The minimum level for setting is 20%.
- Download Mi Fit or Zepp Life (the new name for the same app) sign up or sign in via your Xiaomi, Google or Apple ID account.
- Add a device. In the app, click Profile β Add a device β Bracelet β Mi Smart Band 4. Follow the on-screen prompts.
- Bluetooth pairing. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and wait for the app to find the bracelet. The Mi Band 4 screen will show a code, confirm it in the app.
If the bracelet is not present, try:
- π Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone.
- π± Remove the Mi Fit app cache in your phone settings.
- π Reset the bracelet (press the touch button for 10 seconds).
βοΈ Checklist before connection
3. Customization of the main functions: pedometer, notifications, alarm clocks
Once you've successfully connected, you can configure the basic functions, and most of the settings are managed through the Mi Fit app:
| Function | Where to set up | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Stepper | Profile β Mi Band 4 β Steps. | Set a goal of 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, and turn on the "Sleep Auto-Detection" option for accurate counting. |
| Notifications | Profile β Mi Band 4 β Notifications | Allow notifications in your Android settings (Applications β Mi Fit β Notifications). Disable unnecessary apps (such as games) to keep your bracelet from shaking. |
| Alarm clocks | Profile β Mi Band 4 β Alarm clocks | You can add up to 10 alarm clocks. You can turn on the Smart Alarm to wake up in light sleep. |
| Raising your hand | Profile β Mi Band 4 β Screen. β Raising your hand | Activate the screen to turn on when you're driving. Set a 5-10 second delay to save battery life. |
Pay special attention to the setting of notifications. By default, the bracelet vibrates at any alerts, which quickly puts the battery down.
- π Incoming calls.
- π¬ Messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
- β° Alarm clocks and reminders.
β οΈ Note: On iPhone, notifications on Mi Band 4 only work for calls and SMS. For other alerts, you will need jailbreak or third-party apps like Notify & Fitness (paid).
4. Activation of NFC and Bank Card Linkage
The main advantage of the Mi Band 4 NFC is the ability to contactless payment.
- Check the bank's support. In Russia, only Mir cards from Sber, VTB, Tinkoff and a few other banks work. See the full list on the Mi Pay website.
- Update the bracelet firmware. Go to Profile β Mi Band 4 β Update the firmware and install the latest version.
- Add the card to Mi Pay. Open the Mi Fit app, go to Profile β Mi Pay β Add the card. Follow the bank instructions (you will need to enter card data and confirm by SMS).
Important: to pay, the bracelet must be unlocked (the screen displays the time). If the screen is out, touch the touch button or raise your hand, otherwise the terminal does not count the payment.
The card binding process can take up to 24 hours, and the bank needs to confirm the data.
- π³ The card will appear in the bracelet menu (Swipe down). β Mi Pay).
- π Payment will need to be entered PIN-bracelet code (installed in Mi Fit) β Mi Pay β Security settings).
- π΅ If payment does not pass, reload the bracelet and check the balance of the card.
What if the bank does not support Mi Pay?
5. Advanced settings: branded dials, gestures, battery saving
Mi Band 4 NFC supports dial customization, gestures and hidden features.
Installation of custom dials
Standard dials are quick to get bored, but they are easy to replace:
- Download the dials from the official store in Mi Fit (Profile β Mi Band 4 β Dials).
- Or use third-party services like Amazfit Watch Faces (supports Mi Band 4).
- Download the dial file (.bin) and install it through the Notify & Fitness for Mi Band app (a premium version is required).
Gestures and sensory commands
The bracelet supports several hidden gestures:
- π Raising your hand - turning on the screen.
- π Double touch β move to the next screen (on the menu).
- π Wrist rotation β turning off the alarm clock (if included in the settings).
How to extend battery life
By default, the Mi Band 4 NFC holds a charge for 10β14 days, but with active use of NFC and notifications, this time is reduced to 5β7 days.
- π Turn off the constant pulse (profile) β Mi Band 4 β Heartbeat β Measure automatically β Never).
- π΅ Reduce the brightness of the screen to 20-30%.
- β° Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.
- π« Do not use animated dials β they consume 2 times more energy.
π‘
If the bracelet starts to discharge quickly, reset it to factory settings: Settings β Additional β Reset. After that, re-sync with the phone - this often solves the problem with increased power consumption.
Troubleshooting: Why NFC is not working, data is not synchronized
Even after setting up the Mi Band 4 properly, NFC can be unstable, and consider the typical problems and solutions.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| NFC doesn't work | Unsupported map or region | Check the list of banks on mipay.ru. re-flash the bracelet on European firmware (EU). |
| The bracelet is not synchronized. | Outdated software or Bluetooth failure | Update the Mi Fit and the bracelet firmware. Reboot the Bluetooth on your phone. |
| No notifications coming. | Lack of permits for Mi Fit | Go to Android Settings β Applications β Mi Fit β Notifications and enable all permissions. |
| Fast battery discharge | Background pulse measurement or NFC | Turn off automatic heart rate monitoring and reduce the brightness of the screen. |
If the bracelet has stopped responding to touch or is not activated:
- Connect it to charging for 30 minutes (even if the indicator is not on).
- Press and hold the touch button for 15 seconds to force reboot.
- If the screen is dead, try resetting the settings via Mi Fit β Profile β Mi Band 4 β Untie the device.
β οΈ Note: If after updating the firmware bracelet began to glitch (reboot independently, do not show notifications), roll back to the previous version. 4PDA and run through Mi Fit manually.
7. Reflashing the bracelet: how to change the region to work with Mastercard/Visa
If you bought the Mi Band 4 NFC with Chinese firmware (CN), the NFC module will not work with international maps. To fix this, you need to change the firmware region to European (EU) or Global (Global).
Step-by-step:
- Download the firmware you want with 4PDA (look for files labeled EU or Global).
- Unpack the archive and rename the firmware file to fw_XXX.bin (where XXX β version).
- Place the file in the Mi Fit folder on your phone (path: /Android/data/com.xiaomi.hm.health/files/device/firmware/).
- In the Mi Fit app, go to Profile β Mi Band 4 β Update your firmware and wait for the offer to update.
- Confirm the update and donβt disconnect the bracelet from your phone until the process is complete (takes ~5 minutes).
After flashing:
- π The bracelet will automatically reset.
- π± You will have to re-link it to your Xiaomi account.
- π³ You can now add Mastercard and Visa cards (if the bank is supported).
π‘
Reflashing removes all warranty obligations Xiaomi. If you are not sure about your actions, contact a specialist or use a bracelet without NFC.
8.Alternative ways to use NFC: tags, transport, office access
In addition to contactless payments, the NFC module in Mi Band 4 can be used to:
- π Payment for travel (in Moscow - through Troika, in St. Petersburg - Pomorodnik). To do this, link the transport card to Mi Pay.
- π Emulation of key cards (for example, for intercom or office) You will need an app NFC Tools and original map for copying.
- π± Quick scripting (via Tasker or Automate), for example, you can set up automatic actions when you touch the bracelet tag on the table.
For emulation of key cards:
- Download NFC Tools from Google Play.
- Scan the original card (for example, from the intercom) and save the dump.
- Move the dump to the bracelet via Mi Fit (you will need root access or special software like Mi Band 4 NFC Unlock).
β οΈ Note: Copying someone else's key cards may violate the law (Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - unlawful access to information), use this function only for personal cards (for example, a duplicate key from your entrance).